Dogara
Sequel
to the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the
Electoral Act amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly three
times, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara,
has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
the Police that Nigerians would accept nothing short of complete
openness, a level playing ground and strict adherence to extant Laws
in the conduct of the 2019 elections.
He
also noted that the palpable fears of well-meaning Nigerians and the
international community of the possibility of some forces working to
manipulate the coming elections by exploiting the identified
loopholes in the current Electoral Act, may become a reality if
proactive steps are not taken by critical stakeholders.
In
a speech to mark the resumption of the House from the Christmas and
New Year break delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives
on Thursday, the Speaker said the National Assembly has done its
possible best to deepen the nation’s democratic process by
providing mechanisms that would guarantee successful and rancour-free
elections by passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill for the third
time after the President had declined assent to it twice, meaning
that the impending general elections will not benefit from the
innovative mechanisms crafted in its collaboration with international
and development partners.
The
Speaker stated, “It should remain a thing of pride for us that the
National Assembly has done its best by taking steps to guarantee the
successful and rancour-free conduct of the 2019 General Elections by
passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill for the third time after Mr
President had declined assent to it twice. Lack of passage into Law
of the amended Bill means that the impending General Elections will
not benefit from the innovative mechanisms crafted in its
collaboration with international and Development partners.
Consequently, the palpable fears of well-meaning Nigerians and the
international community of the possibility of some forces working to
manipulate the coming elections by exploiting the identified
loopholes in the current Electoral Act, may become a reality if
proactive steps are not taken by critical stakeholders.
“Hon.
Members, I believe that our intention to improve on the successes of
the 2015 General Election through the Amendment Bill, is very clear
to all fair-minded Nigerians. The spate of serious allegations by
stakeholders, corroborated by some Press reports against INEC and the
Nigerian Police in the recent elections, which are already subjects
of litigations, are some of the factors that gave rise to public
apprehension on the success of the coming General Elections.
“We
had intended, through this Bill, to minimise the risk to the survival
of our hard-won democracy through responsive and timely legislation
aimed at ensuring free, fair and transparent elections.
Nonetheless, as Parliament, we have done our best to guarantee the
stability and growth of our fragile democracy, and I have no doubt
that history will be very kind to us.
“Under
the present circumstance, we have no choice than to take INEC and the
Police by their words and give them the benefit of doubt in their
recent assurances to be impartial, efficient and truthful in the
conduct of the coming elections. This is the minimum that the
country deserves from them at this auspicious time. Nothing
short of complete openness, a level playing ground and strict
adherence to extant Laws will be acceptable to Nigerians.”
Hon
Dogara also called on the President and Commander-In-Chief of the
Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, to take a hard look at
Nigeria’s national security architecture with a view to securing
lives, national pride and prestige and to fight against unbridled
violence.
“We
are all witnesses to the continuous deteriorating security situation
in our country more especially in the North East, North West and some
parts of the North Central. Only three days ago, scores of people
were killed in Sokoto State and elsewhere,” he stated, adding, that
hardly does any week pass without reports of mass killings and
bloodletting, either by terrorists or armed bandits.
“This
calls for drastic, urgent and concerted action and efforts to bring
to a quick end. Our citizens are looking up to us and we can’t
afford to fail them because security of lives and properties is the
primary purpose of government. The fight against unbridled violence
is one we cannot afford to lose as we can’t do so and still keep
our civilisation. The symptoms of the malady afflicting our national
security architecture are in plain sight. It is therefore imperative
for the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces to take
a hard look at our national security architecture with a view to
fixing the malady in order to secure lives, national pride and
prestige,” he said.
Addressing
his colleagues, Hon Dogara noted that with less than five months to
the end of the 8th National Assembly, now is a good time to reflect
on the journey they started in June, 2015 and while the House can
boast that it has done appreciably, the remaining period demands
assiduous and expeditious work so that the huge legislative
assignments that still lies ahead of them can be done with and the
unsurpassed record of legislative outputs so far achieved by the
House can be maintained.
Specifically,
he called for accelerated legislative processing of the 2019
Appropriation so that government business will not be impeded, as
well as other Bills under consideration which are critical to the
development of our country. This is just as he reminded them to
strike a good balance between their commitment to legislative duties
and participation in the campaigns by streamlining their political
timetable and schedules to make room for attendance to legislative
duties as much as is expected of them.
Advocating
for the highest form of decorum in the campaigns, the Speaker stated,
“I find it imperative on this occasion to call on all our political
leaders to cultivate the highest level of decorum, responsibility and
respect for the Law in our electioneering campaigns. We must,
through our conduct, show our commitment to the successful and
peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections and above all, the sustenance
of our democracy. We should avoid the tendency of being hypocritical
by engaging in misdeeds that we are quick to point out in our
opponents. Let us be guided by our conscience and the teachings
of our religions, which demand that we judge ourselves before judging
others.”
While
expressing gratitude for the continued support and unity of the
members to the leadership of the House, he cautioned that “neither
contest for elective office nor elections are ends in themselves as
they are merely the means by which we seek to serve the people and
indeed humanity. Where our intentions are genuine and honorable, we
shall never seek power at the expense of the lives and properties of
those we seek to serve. This should be our resolve across board.”
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